The Licensing Sub-Committee of Richmond upon Thames Council met on Thursday, 7 March 2024, to consider an application for a new premises licence for Universal Tech & Vape. The committee granted the licence with several conditions after considering representations from the applicant, the Metropolitan Police, and a local ward councillor.

Universal Tech & Vape Premises Licence Application

The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a new premises licence to Universal Tech & Vape, located at 137 Percy Road, Twickenham, TW2 6HU. The licence permits the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption between 11:00 and 23:00, Monday to Sunday, and allows the premises to be open to the public during the same hours.

The decision followed a hearing where the applicant, represented by Mr. Oisin Daly of Absolute Licence Solutions Ltd and applicant/Designated Premises Supervisor Mr. Jogat Chopra, presented their case. The application was opposed by Councillor John Coombs, the ward councillor for Heathfield Ward.

Conditions of the Licence:

The granted licence is subject to a comprehensive set of conditions, including:

• Staff Training: All staff involved in alcohol sales must receive regular training on the Licensing Act 2003, licensing objectives, and licence conditions. Refresher training is required every six months, with records maintained for inspection.
• CCTV: A CCTV system must be in operation, with a nominated, trained staff member present whenever the premises are open to the public. Footage must be retained for at least 31 days and accessible to police and licensing authorities within 24 hours of a request.
• Incident Log: An incident log must be kept, recording crimes, customer ejections, disorder, CCTV faults, and refusals of alcohol sales. This log will also record visits by responsible authorities and any complaints received from residents.
• Age Verification: A Challenge 25 policy will be enforced, requiring staff to ask for proof of age from anyone appearing under 25. Acceptable forms of identification include photo driving licences, passports, PASS-accredited ID cards, military ID, and EU national photographic identity cards. Posters informing customers of this policy must be displayed.
• Refusal Register: A record of every occasion when alcohol sales are refused must be maintained, including the date, time, customer description, and the name of the staff member who refused the sale.
• Waste Management: Deliveries and waste disposal are restricted to between 09:00 and 19:00.
• Alcohol Sales Restrictions: No single beers, lagers, or ciders above 6% ABV will be sold. Additionally, only a maximum of 20% of the premises' floor space can be used for the display of alcohol for sale, and alcohol products must be kept separate from soft drinks. Staff at the counter must have an unobstructed view of all alcohol display areas and the bench opposite the store.
• Match Day Conditions: The premises will comply with any reasonable closure request made by the police on rugby match days at Twickenham RFU Stadium when attendance is expected to exceed 30,000.
• Proxy Sales and ASB: Staff will receive training on proxy sales and be made aware of anti-social behaviour (ASB) associated with alcohol consumption near the premises, encouraging them to take appropriate action, such as refusing sales to individuals involved in such incidents.

Considerations and Arguments:

The application was for a technology and retail shop with off-licence alcohol sales. The Metropolitan Police initially had concerns but withdrew their objection after agreeing on additional conditions with the applicant.

Councillor John Coombs, representing Heathfield Ward, raised concerns that the premises might operate primarily as an off-licence due to the proposed floor space dedicated to alcohol sales. He also highlighted that the location, while at the end of a parade of shops, is adjacent to residential properties and a small green area with a bench opposite the store. Councillor Coombs noted that this bench area had experienced low-level ASB, which he believed was linked to alcohol consumption and made the area unattractive. He supported a condition limiting alcohol display space to 20% of the floor area.

The applicant's representatives argued that the agreed conditions with the police and the further conditions offered during the hearing were sufficient to uphold the licensing objectives. They disputed the claim that the premises was in a purely residential area, stating it was part of a shop parade near a train station. Crime statistics for the area were presented, indicating a lower-than-average rate of ASB. The applicant also stated they had attempted to engage with Councillor Coombs but were unsuccessful.

The sub-committee considered the applicant's proposed operating schedule, the representations made, and the guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003. They noted that the premises was not located within a cumulative impact zone. The decision to grant the licence was based on the belief that the agreed and imposed conditions would effectively promote the licensing objectives, addressing concerns about the premises becoming an off-licence, preventing proxy sales, mitigating ASB, and ensuring public safety. The sub-committee also acknowledged the right of review for any licensed premises should issues arise post-granting of the licence.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Jonathan Cardy, with Councillor Piers Allen and Councillor Rob O'Carroll also in attendance. The hearing commenced at 10:30 am and concluded at 11:17 am.